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He wouldn't be a bad player to pick up...
French forward Hugo Ekitiké who currently plays for Eintracht Frankfurt, has set the transfer rumour mill churning after revealing that he was a boyhood Manchester United fan.
Ekitiké may currently be lighting up the German league but many fans, both United and otherwise, now believe the youngster has given the club a strong signal to ‘come and get me’ in a recent interview with his current employers.
Speaking via Frankfurt’s own media channels, the 22-year-old striker was asked who his favourite football team was growing up in a series of quickfire questions.
He didn’t hesitate:
🚨 Hugo Ekitike when asked which team was his favourite club when he was little:
“Manchester United.”
(Via @Eintracht)
pic.twitter.com/wob4nkjpGz
— United Zone (@ManUnitedZone_) March 23, 2025
If this is, indeed, a bit of a wink and a nod in the Red Devils direction (he wouldn’t be the first nor the last), there might be reason to believe it could happen.
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Born in Reims, not only is Ekitiké one of the most promising young players in the Bundesliga at present, but there are plenty of particulars that could see a courtship sparked with United – if it hasn’t already.
Apart from clearly being a Red from a young age, the Frankfurt prospect came through the ranks at his hometown club in 2019, the same year in which Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS Group acquired fellow Ligue 1 outfit OGC Nice.
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Not only did he score 10 goals in his first 26 appearances for Reims but it didn’t take too long for PSG to snap him up before ultimately loaning him out to Frankfurt last year, who made the deal permanent back in April 2024. All this is to say that it’s likely that INEOS will have detailed scout reports on him already.
Since then, he’s gone on to net 19 goals and register eight assists across 38 appearances, including a baker’s dozen in the league and four goal contributions in three games in his side’s run to the round of 16 in the domestic cup.
You can see some of Hugo Ekitiké’s highlights down below.
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Following this revelation, some outlets are reporting that both United, Arsenal and a number of other clubs have been put on ‘red alert’ in regards to tapping up Ekitiké ahead of the summer transfer window.
It goes without saying that given **Rúben Amorim**‘s early struggles with getting his squad to not just score enough goals but create a steady stream of chances from game to game, the addition of another young striker to potentially build around whilst his other forwards are struggling to find the net could be useful.
Besides being an option for rotation – especially as Joshua Zirkzee seems to have moved into an attacking midfield role and Rasmus Højlund has only found the net once in his last 21 games – he’s already been praised for his dynamism even if he’s still somewhat raw.
It’s also worth noting that we’ve already seen how well a former Frankfurt teammate of his has settled into life in English football over on the blue half of Manchester in the form of Omar Marmoush, and the Bundesliga’s similarity to the Premier League in terms of physicality is well documented.
Oh yeah, a meaningless coincidence it may be but he’s already used to wearing red, white and black…
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Featured Images — Eintracht Frankfurt/Bundesliga (screenshots via YouTube)
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Section of the 2025 Manchester Marathon to be named after Jamie Laing following ultra fundraiser Danny Jones Danny Jones Jaime Laing to have part of the Manchester Marathon named after him
Comic Relief has a new hero and after his ultra-distance and ultra-hard fundraising feats, Jamie Laing looks set to have part of the 2025 Manchester Marathon named after him.
He’s come a long way from the days of McVitie’s fortune and Made in Chelsea moments.
The English TV personality turned presenter, podcaster and businessman embarked on an unbelievable ultra marathon challenge earlier this week, setting himself the task of running a total of 150 miles for Comic Relief. With no training…
Making his way from London all the way to Manchester and in Salford Quays, specifically, where the BBC coverage team and thousands of spectators met him with rapturous applause, he completed the unbelievable distance and was in tears at the finish. Here’s the moment he did it:
Full of emotion after not only having smashed the five ultra marathons in five days – who had never run anywhere near this distance before in his life – but after raising nearly £3 million for the cause and counting, there were hugs and plenty of tears all-round.
Laing described the experience as “the most beautiful thing I’ve ever experienced in my entire life” and said that a big part of the journey was battling through and drawing attention to the issues surrounding mental health, admitting: “I have suffered, and I do suffer, and that’s OK.”
We had very little connection to the Oxford-born celebrity prior to this (beyond a love for his great-great-grandad’s biscuits baked just down the road in Stockport), but now we have huge respect for him and would make him an honorary Manc if we could.
Now, while we don’t have that power at present, we’ll have to settle for the next best thing, which comes courtesy of the Adidas Manchester Marathon.
With Laing having officially completed his consecutive ultra marathon challenge, the organisers are now preparing to name a section of this year’s route through Greater Manchester in his honour.
Come on, how cool is that?
how long did jamie laing's run take?
jaime laing fundraising run
The moment Jamie Laing ran 150 miles and cemented himself in Comic Relief and Manchester Marathon history (Credit: The Manc Group)
While the exact details are still yet to be confirmed, Mancs taking on the biggest run of the year will run through ‘Laing Lane’ or ‘Jamie’s Junction’ when the Marathon rolls around on Sunday, 27 April.
The event team are still waiting to verify which portion of the 2025 route the 36-year-old, having passed through the likes of Stockport, Chorlton and other areas on his way to 0161, but there’s no question about what needs to happen – it’s just the name we need to settle on.
Andrew Smith, CEO of A.S.O. (Amaury Sport Organisation) UK, the country’s leading mass participation events company, said of the achievement: “**Jamie**’s challenge is nothing short of heroic – five ultramarathons in five days is no easy feat!
“Not only has he crossed the finish line, but he’s also raised an incredible £2.7 million for Comic Relief. If he did pass through our 2025 route, we’ll be proud to name that stretch after him – a lasting tribute to his endurance, energy, and impact.”
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We’re just over a month away from the 2025 race, the fourth-largest in all of Europe, and with a couple of members of The Manc team taking it on again this year, we for one cannot wait.
A new finish line has already been announced for this year’s route and while we can’t tell you exactly which part of the Manchester Marathon will be named after Jamie Laing just yet, we promise to give it an extra pump when we pass through wherever it is.
It’s also worth reminding that you can still donate to his incredible Red Nose Day fundraiser right HERE.
Greater Manchester’s running culture continues to flourish with more clubs, events and representation than ever. You love to see it.
Get moving, people.
For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.
Featured Images — The Manc Group/Supplied
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Man City Women put an end to Chelsea’s unbeaten run as they take Champions League lead Danny Jones Danny Jones Man City Women end Chelsea winning streak
Manchester City Women have taken a crucial lead in the Champions League quarter-final after making it past Chelsea to finally end their lengthy unbeaten run.
The Blues took on the WSL leaders for the second time amidst a series of four consecutive meetings across all competitions this month, having only just lost to Sonia Bompastor’s side in the League Cup Final this past weekend.
Missing out on the trophy could have seen City dip their heads but returning interim head coach Nick Cushing made sure that his team responded by bouncing back.
Now taking a 2-0 lead into the second leg of the quarters, there is still the chance of winning silverware this season – though there is definitely still work to be done.
"It shows her level" 🔥
Nick Cushing on Vivianne Miedema's impact of the bench for Man City 👏 pic.twitter.com/4218nBlphc
— Sky Sports WSL (@SkySportsWSL) March 20, 2025
Man City Women managed to end the East Londoners’ winning streak thanks to a brace from substitute Vivianne Miedema, who came on in the second half and managed to open the scoring by sniffing out a rebound off the bar just before the hour mark.
The turn and cross in from Mary Fowler – a shining light in City’s season thus far who created plenty of big chances and nearly grabbed another assist – was sublime but the instinct to swallow up the loose ball proved to be crucial in giving the home team the edge all night.
In truth, the initial header from Laia Aleixandri was strong and kept out by an impressive save, but Miedema’s willingness to cover great ground meant she was in the right place at the right time.
You could say it was a similar story for her second.
Notching her second of the night and 31st goal overall in just 35 UWCL games, a simple side-step to change lanes as she ran into the box
✨ MAGIC MIEDEMA
She let's the ball to the work and then places it beautifully to double Manchester City's lead!
Watch Man City v. Chelsea live on DAZN & join the DAZN FanZone ▶️ https://t.co/dIfKpURfZv #UWCLonDAZN #UWCL pic.twitter.com/tDlaiQbUTY
— DAZN Women's Football (@DAZNWFootball) March 19, 2025
Speaking after the match, the 28-year-old forward said the result is “a massive confidence boost for us going into the next two [fixtures against Chelsea]”, insisting that the fight shown in the first half half game them the belief to say “we can actually win today.”
As for Cushing, he told the club’s media shortly afterwards: “I was confident if she got chances, she’d score, we just have to create those moments for her. Tonight, we saw many and she thinks she should’ve had a hat-trick!”
City Women play Chelsea for a third time this weekend, once again hosting them at the Joie Stadium only this time in the league, before playing that decisive second leg down in the capital next Thursday, 27 March. Will a two-goal advantage be enough? We’ll have to wait and see.
You can watch the highlights down below:
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Featured Images — DAZN
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